According to the latest reports, the warehouse explosions that occurred in Tianjin, China have left up to 114 people dead and hundreds others injured. More than sixty people are still missing after the massive blasts, which devastated parts of the city. According to Chinese media, there were two explosions, the first being equal to up to three tons of TNT exploding, and the second being equivalent to over 20 tons. In fact, the second explosion was so large that there are reports of satellites orbiting the earth picking it up.

A calm and peaceful looking Tianjin before the devastating explosions rocked the city and left over a hundred dead and hundreds more injured.

The extent of the loss of property is also rumored to be extensive. Large shipping containers in the port where the explosion took place are rumored to have been destroyed and crumpled up by the ensuing fireball. A nearby logistics park containing cars from various companies is also thought to have been destroyed. Renault has reported up to 1500 of its cars being lost in the blast, while Hyundai says it had 4000 cars at the site. Hyundai has not assessed the level of the damage yet though. The explosion resulted in hundreds being taken to hospitals, many critically injured. Many nearby residents have had to leave their homes and are now shacking up in schools nearby. Before the explosions, there were firefighters at the scene trying to control a blaze, and it is thought that water sprayed on the calcium carbide at the scene resulting in the creation of highly explosive acetylene.

Officials Detained

Much of what happened at the port during the explosion remains unknown, especially regarding the exact cause of the fire. However, it is slowly emerging that the actions of the officials of the storage company Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co. may have contributed both directly and indirectly to the devastating blast. Chinese officials have since detained ten senior executives of the warehouse company, including the company president, vice president and the chief financial officer. Senior executives at the company have been under investigation since August 13th, with earlier media reports saying only two had been detained. Many also think the investigations into the director of the country’s work safety agency Yang Dongliang, a former Tianjin Vice mayor up to 2012, are related to this incident. Yang is being investigated for severe violations of discipline and law.

Court of public opinion

Although the company was licensed to handle the chemicals at the time of the blast, they had only just obtained a license renewal in June 2015. The company’s previous chemical handling license had expired in October 2014. Following the detainment of the company officials, there has been widespread public and media outrage at the government for failing to properly regulate the company. Residential apartments and a railway station are reported to have been closer to the ill-fated warehouse than required by Chinese law.

Chinese media was heavily involved, practically convicting the arrested officials of fraudulently obtaining permits and licenses to handle dangerous chemicals they were clearly not capable of keeping safe in storage. Public anger against the government has surged in the port city of Tianjin, with residents believing the government had neglected the strict enforcement of safety regulations. A company executive seemed to confess to having had connections with the police and fire departments which allowed him to obtain permits easily. In a confession aired on Chinese television, he reportedly gave the police and fire department files and quickly got an appraisal. Chinese media, often controversially, airs confessions on high profile cases before trials in courts, a practice that has been branded a violation of the rights of the accused to a due legal process. The confession did not mention any instances of bribery. The said official, however, confessed that the company had shopped around for approvals from different safety evaluation firms until they got the desired results that would allow them a license renewal and the freedom of operation.

China has struggled with various industrial incidents and accidents in the past few years, despite public declarations and vows that the country had learned its lessons. As news trickles in of the company being allowed to exploit loopholes to operate, it remains to be seen how the Chinese government will react to this unfortunate and sad disaster.